Mild Colitis Tips

pawprints86

All the testing over the last few months, etc. After everything, including a colonoscopy, I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago with a mild form of colitis. My grandmother had the same thing, come to find out.

I've of course done my research on it, what I can of it anyway, and I know I need to keep a food journal (thank goodness for MFP!) to see which foods irritate my system. I have another doctor's appointment to discuss things in just over a week.

Anything else I should know about this? Any tips from people who are still suffering from it, or have gotten over it? I don't want horror stories, those will just make my anxiety flare up, lol, but any encouragement or tips or suggestions I'd love for what worked for others!

I'd rather not have this continue and have to have any kind of surgery that I've read about, or be dependent on meds for the rest of my life (though I'd take the meds over the surgery any day...) so anything I can do with my diet or exercise I'm willing to try hardcore!

Right now the doc has me on 2 per day of Levbid and an over-the-counter probiotic. (Not Align, it was too expensive for me at the time).

Thanks, friends!

CipherZero

Sadly, I have extensive experience with gut issues like this.

Get your hands on the book "Eating Right for a Bad Gut" (http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Right-For-Bad-Gut/dp/0452279763) - some of it is outdated (ALA doesn't convert at a 4:1 ratio as claimed), but overall it does give a good approach to managing your symptoms.

Don't knock being on medication for the rest of your life for it. You get no awards for lowering your quality of life to be 'medication free'.

Lleldiranne

I'm assuming you're seeing a GI doc and not just a general practitioner. If not, you probably want to get in to a specialist

I only have second-hand advice; one family member had IBS with non-cancerous polyps and another has had surgery due to ulcerative colitis (if you can keep it from getting this far, do!!)

The best advice I can give is to follow the advice, especially the dietary guidelines, or your doctor very closely. You may not be able to eat like most people - whether it's avoiding certain foods or requiring extra fiber or some other change (which may depend on your specific condition, so I can't even give specifics). So, unfortunately, you won't be able to get food/dietary advice from these boards. Go directly to your doctor (or a nutritionist he gives a referral for).

I almost never say this, but you may want to get tested for celiac or other intolerances/triggers that could be irritating your colon and causing or exacerbating your colon. If you do have a condition like this, cutting out that food might help resolve your symptoms.


Good luck :flowerforyou:

pawprints86

Thank you both for the information! Yes, I've been to a GI specialist, had the colonoscopy, etc. I do believe they did a stool sample and a celiac test, they are doing a secondary blood test tomorrow to just check on some other things (not even sure what, this has been a whirlwind!).

I don't HATE being on meds, if I have to the rest of my life, obviously that would be worse than the alternative, and I appreciate if the medication actually helps.

Thanks about the advice about the food. I'll make sure to get that book ASAP. I haven't gotten any recommendations yet from the doc specifically about what foods to eat or avoid, but I'm sure that'll be covered at the appointment a week from now. Just so ready to be feeling more healthy. I know losing some weight wouldn't hurt either!

Thanks again!

Crohns2013

I have Crohns, not colitis, but as far as eating and meds go, they're pretty close. Sadly I'm not mild and have already gone down the surgery and meds for the rest of my life route, but I'll keep the specifics of that to myself so I don't scare you

You probably won't find many answers about how or what to eat because every one is so different. Keeping a food log is a good idea, and lots of people seem to thrive on both the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) and Paleo. You should also check out www.crohnsforum.com. There is a colitis board on there and lots of info/advice.

pawprints86

I have Crohns, not colitis, but as far as eating and meds go, they're pretty close. Sadly I'm not mild and have already gone down the surgery and meds for the rest of my life route, but I'll keep the specifics of that to myself so I don't scare you

You probably won't find many answers about how or what to eat because every one is so different. Keeping a food log is a good idea, and lots of people seem to thrive on both the SCD (specific carbohydrate diet) and Paleo. You should also check out www.crohnsforum.com. There is a colitis board on there and lots of info/advice.

Thank you for responding and for your words. I'm sorry you've had to go the surgery/meds route! From what little I've read, it seems pretty terrible. Yes, this is what I plan on doing. Trying to, as far as I know, get into remission at this point. I don't know how the meds I'm taking work, unfortunately the generic tablet for Levbid seemed to ... erm, go right through me, quite literally. Was now told, the last few days, to now crush the tablet and take it with applesauce. Feeling kind of tired lately, though I've gotten enough sleep. All my other levels of things they said before were pretty normal, so not sure what that's about. Maybe a side effect from the pill.

Anyway, just going down this road as I can. My appointment is Monday, so hoping she'll have more information at that appointment. Thank you for the advice of the website, I'll check it out!